U.S. patent application number 14/034374 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-26 for integration of a light collection light-guide with a field sequential color display.
The applicant listed for this patent is QUALCOMM Incorporated. Invention is credited to Xiquan Cui, Evgeni Petrovich Gousev, Russell Wayne Gruhlke, Chung-Po Huang, Paul Eric Jacobs, Jacek Maitan, Hae-Jong Seo, John Michael Wyrwas.
Application Number | 20150084927 14/034374 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51564830 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150084927 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wyrwas; John Michael ; et
al. |
March 26, 2015 |
INTEGRATION OF A LIGHT COLLECTION LIGHT-GUIDE WITH A FIELD
SEQUENTIAL COLOR DISPLAY
Abstract
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for
touch and gesture recognition, using a field sequential color
display. The display includes a processor, a lighting system, and
an arrangement for spatial light modulation that includes an array
of light modulators. Each light modulator is switchable between an
open position that permits transmittance of light from the lighting
system through a respective aperture and a shut position that
blocks light transmission through the respective aperture. The
processor switches the light modulators in accordance with a first
modulation scheme to render an image and in accordance with a
second modulation scheme to selectively pass object illuminating
light through at least one of the respective apertures. A light
sensor receives light resulting from interaction of the object
illuminating with an object and outputs a signal to the processor.
The processor recognizes, from the output of the light sensor, a
characteristic of the object.
Inventors: |
Wyrwas; John Michael;
(Berkeley, CA) ; Jacobs; Paul Eric; (La Jolla,
CA) ; Gousev; Evgeni Petrovich; (Saratoga, CA)
; Gruhlke; Russell Wayne; (Milpitas, CA) ; Huang;
Chung-Po; (San Jose, CA) ; Seo; Hae-Jong; (San
Jose, CA) ; Cui; Xiquan; (San Jose, CA) ;
Maitan; Jacek; (Mountain View, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QUALCOMM Incorporated |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51564830 |
Appl. No.: |
14/034374 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/175 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0412 20130101;
G09G 3/3433 20130101; G06F 3/0428 20130101; G09G 3/346 20130101;
G06F 3/0421 20130101; G06F 3/04883 20130101; G06F 2203/04808
20130101; G06F 2203/04109 20130101; G09G 2360/141 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/175 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/042 20060101
G06F003/042; G09G 3/34 20060101 G09G003/34; G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041; G06F 3/0488 20060101 G06F003/0488 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: an interactive display having a front
surface including a viewing area, the interactive display including
a display lighting system and an arrangement for spatial light
modulation, the arrangement for spatial light modulation including
an array of light modulators, each light modulator configured to be
switched between an open position that permits transmittance of
light from the display lighting system through a respective
aperture to the front surface and a shut position that blocks light
transmission through the respective aperture; a transparent
substrate, disposed between the display lighting system and the
front surface and substantially parallel to the front surface, and
having a periphery at least coextensive with the viewing area; at
least one light sensor disposed outside the periphery of the
transparent substrate; and a processor; wherein: the light
modulators are micro electromechanical (MEM) devices disposed
proximate to a rear surface of the transparent substrate the light
modulators are switched in accordance with a first modulation
scheme to render an image; the transparent substrate is configured
to pass light emitted by the display lighting system toward the
front surface and to receive light reflected through the front
surface from an object, the transparent substrate including a first
light-turning arrangement that redirects a portion of the received
light toward the at least one light sensor; the light sensor is
configured to output, to the processor, a signal representative of
a characteristic of the received, redirected light; and the
processor is configured to: switch the light modulators in
accordance with a second modulation scheme to selectively pass
object illuminating light through at least one of the respective
apertures, the object illuminating light being at least partially
unrelated to the image; and recognize, from the output of the light
sensor, a characteristic of the object.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the display lighting system
includes at least one infrared (IR) light emitter; the at least one
light sensor includes an IR light sensor; the transparent substrate
is configured to pass IR light emitted by the display lighting
system toward the front surface and to receive IR light scattered
through the display front surface from the object; and the first
light-turning arrangement redirects a portion of the received IR
light toward the IR light sensor.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the transparent substrate
includes a partial layer of a coating material, the coating
material being opaque to visible light and substantially
transparent to IR light.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the partial layer is
selectively located in regions of the transparent substrate that
are spatially removed from the corresponding apertures.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second modulation scheme
includes a sensing pattern interspersed between visible image
patterns.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sensing pattern includes a
raster scan.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the array of light modulators
includes a layer disposed on the rear surface of the transparent
substrate.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first light-turning
arrangement is proximate to a front surface of the transparent
substrate.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to
recognize, from an output of the IR light sensor, a location of the
object.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the display lighting system
emits visible light during a first number of sub-frames and emits
IR light during a second number of sub-frames.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a ratio of the first number
to the second number is 10:1.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the IR light emitter is
flashed during a sub-frame where image data is being displayed.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor controls the
display, responsive to the characteristic.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the characteristic is one or
more of a location, or a motion of the object.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first light-turning
arrangement includes one or more of diffractive, refractive or
holographic elements.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object includes one or
more of a hand, finger, hand held object, and other object under
control of a user.
17. An apparatus comprising: an interactive display having a front
surface including a viewing area, the interactive display including
a display lighting system and an arrangement for spatial light
modulation, the arrangement for spatial light modulation including
an array of light modulators, each light modulator configured to be
switched between an open position that permits transmittance of
light from the display lighting system through a respective
aperture to the front surface and a shut position that blocks light
transmission through the respective aperture; a transparent
substrate, disposed between the display lighting system and the
front surface and substantially parallel to the front surface, and
having a periphery at least coextensive with the viewing area; at
least one light sensor disposed outside the periphery of the
transparent substrate; and means for recognizing, from the output
of the light sensor, a characteristic of the object; and means for
switching the light modulators wherein: the light modulators are
micro electromechanical (MEM) devices disposed proximate to a rear
surface of the transparent substrate; the light modulators are
switched in accordance with a first modulation scheme to render an
image, and in accordance with a second modulation scheme to
selectively pass object illuminating light through at least one of
the respective apertures, the object illuminating light being at
least partially unrelated to the image; the transparent substrate
is configured to pass light emitted by the display lighting system
toward the front surface and to receive light reflected through the
front surface from an object, the transparent substrate including a
first light-turning arrangement that redirects a portion of the
received light toward the at least one light sensor; the light
sensor is configured to output, to the processor, a signal
representative of a characteristic of the received, redirected
light.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second modulation scheme
includes a sensing pattern interspersed between visible image
patterns.
19. A method comprising: switching, with a processor, one or more
light modulators of an array of light modulators, wherein an
interactive display has a front surface including a viewing area,
the interactive display including a display lighting system and an
arrangement for spatial light modulation, the arrangement for
spatial light modulation including an array of light modulators,
each light modulator configured to be switched between an open
position that permits transmittance of light from the display
lighting system through a respective aperture to the front surface
and a shut position that blocks light transmission through the
respective aperture; a transparent substrate is disposed between
the display lighting system and the front surface and substantially
parallel to the front surface, and having a periphery at least
coextensive with the viewing area; at least one light sensor is
disposed outside the periphery of the transparent substrate; the
light modulators are micro electromechanical (MEM) devices disposed
proximate to a rear surface of the transparent substrate; the light
modulators are switched in accordance with a first modulation
scheme to render an image, and in accordance with a second
modulation scheme to selectively pass object illuminating light
through at least one of the respective apertures, the object
illuminating light being at least partially unrelated to the image;
and the transparent substrate is configured to pass light emitted
by the display lighting system toward the front surface and to
receive light reflected through the front surface from an object,
the transparent substrate including a first light-turning
arrangement that redirects a portion of the received light toward
the at least one light sensor; outputting, from the light sensor to
the processor, a signal representative of a characteristic of the
received, redirected light; and recognizing, from the output of the
light sensor, a characteristic of the object.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the characteristic is one or
more of a location, or a motion of the object.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates to techniques for touch and gesture
recognition, and, more specifically, to a field sequential color
(FSC) display that provides a user input/output interface,
controlled responsively to a user's touch and/or gesture.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNOLOGY
[0002] Electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets, laptops,
personal computers, and the like increasingly feature a touchscreen
user interface. The power, cost and durability requirements typical
of handheld devices are not well-achieved by known techniques. For
example, projected capacitance touch (PCT), presently the most
commonly used technology for handheld devices, generally employs
transparent layers of indium tin oxide (ITO) or other transparent
conductor materials stacked together above the display. This
reduces the clarity of the display, adds significant cost, and
additional controller electronics are needed to read out the finger
locations. In addition, there can be cross talk and noise between
the display electronics and the touch electronics, reducing the
performance of both.
[0003] A multi-touch-technology wherein a planar light guide with a
light turning arrangement is disposed substantially between a
display backlight system and a front surface is one solution to add
touch functionality to a field sequential color (FSC). However,
this solution may require adding an additional light-guide layer,
which may increase cost and thickness.
[0004] Thus, improved techniques for providing a touch screen
interface are desirable.
SUMMARY
[0005] The systems, methods and devices of the disclosure each have
several innovative aspects, no single one of which is solely
responsible for the desirable attributes disclosed herein.
[0006] One innovative aspect of the subject matter described in
this disclosure can be implemented in an apparatus that includes an
interactive display having a front surface including a viewing
area, the interactive display including a display lighting system
and an arrangement for spatial light modulation, the arrangement
for spatial light modulation including an array of light
modulators, each light modulator configured to be switched between
an open position that permits transmittance of light from the
display lighting system through a respective aperture to the front
surface and a shut position that blocks light transmission through
the respective aperture. The apparatus also includes a transparent
substrate, disposed between the display lighting system and the
front surface and substantially parallel to the front surface, and
having a periphery at least coextensive with the viewing area; at
least one light sensor disposed outside the periphery of the
transparent substrate; and a processor. The light modulators are
micro electromechanical (MEM) devices disposed proximate to a rear
surface of the transparent substrate. The light modulators are
switched in accordance with a first modulation scheme to render an
image. The transparent substrate is configured to pass light
emitted by the display lighting system toward the front surface and
to receive light reflected through the front surface from an
object, the transparent substrate including a first light-turning
arrangement that redirects a portion of the received light toward
the at least one light sensor. The light sensor is configured to
output, to the processor, a signal representative of a
characteristic of the received, redirected light. The processor is
configured to switch the light modulators in accordance with a
second modulation scheme to selectively pass object illuminating
light through at least one of the respective apertures, the object
illuminating light being at least partially unrelated to the image.
The processor is also configured to recognize, from the output of
the light sensor, a characteristic of the object.
[0007] In some implementations, the object may include one or more
of a hand, finger, hand held object, and other object under control
of a user.
[0008] In some implementations, the display lighting system may
include at least one infrared (IR) light emitter. The at least one
light sensor may include an IR light sensor. The transparent
substrate may be configured to pass IR light emitted by the display
lighting system toward the front surface and to receive IR light
scattered through the display front surface from the object. The
first light-turning arrangement may redirect a portion of the
received IR light toward the IR light sensor.
[0009] Another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in
this disclosure can be implemented in a method that includes
switching, with a processor, one or more light modulators of an
array of light modulators. An interactive display has a front
surface including a viewing area, the interactive display including
a display lighting system and an arrangement for spatial light
modulation, the arrangement for spatial light modulation including
an array of light modulators, each light modulator configured to be
switched between an open position that permits transmittance of
light from the display lighting system through a respective
aperture to the front surface and a shut position that blocks light
transmission through the respective aperture. A transparent
substrate is disposed between the display lighting system and the
front surface and substantially parallel to the front surface, and
having a periphery at least coextensive with the viewing area. At
least one light sensor is disposed outside the periphery of the
transparent substrate. The light modulators are micro
electromechanical (MEM) devices disposed proximate to a rear
surface of the transparent substrate. The light modulators are
switched in accordance with a first modulation scheme to render an
image, and in accordance with a second modulation scheme to
selectively pass object illuminating light through at least one of
the respective apertures, the object illuminating light being at
least partially unrelated to the image. The transparent substrate
is configured to pass light emitted by the display lighting system
toward the front surface and to receive light reflected through the
front surface from an object, the transparent substrate including a
first light-turning arrangement that redirects a portion of the
received light toward the at least one light sensor. The method
further includes outputting, from the light sensor to the
processor, a signal representative of a characteristic of the
received, redirected light, and recognizing, from the output of the
light sensor, a characteristic of the object.
[0010] Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter
described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying
drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and
advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings,
and the claims. Note that the relative dimensions of the following
figures may not be drawn to scale.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of an example of an electronic
device having an electronic display.
[0012] FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C show an example of an arrangement
including a planar light guide and a light sensor.
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example of an
arrangement for spatial light modulation of an interactive
display.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an electronic display
incorporating a light modulation array.
[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an interactive display
according to an implementation.
[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates a further example of an interactive
display, according to an implementation.
[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates a yet further example of an interactive
display, according to an implementation.
[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates another example of an interactive
display, according to an implementation.
[0019] FIG. 8 illustrates a further example of an interactive
display, according to an implementation.
[0020] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a scanning pattern for a
second modulation scheme in accordance with some
implementations.
[0021] FIG. 10 illustrates a further example of a scanning pattern
for a second modulation scheme in accordance with some
implementations.
[0022] FIG. 11 shows an example of a light turning arrangement and
light sensors, according to an implementation.
[0023] FIG. 12 shows an example of a light turning arrangement and
light sensors, according to a further implementation.
[0024] FIG. 13 shows an example of a light turning arrangement and
light sensors, according to another implementation.
[0025] FIG. 14 shows an example of a light turning arrangement and
light sensors, according to a yet further implementation.
[0026] FIG. 15 shows an example of a light turning arrangement and
light sensors, according to another implementation.
[0027] FIG. 16 shows an example of a scanning pattern in which a
size of aperture blocks may be adjusted.
[0028] FIG. 17 illustrates an example of an interactive display,
configured for document scanning, according to an
implementation.
[0029] FIG. 18 illustrates an example of an interactive display,
configured for document scanning, according to a further
implementation.
[0030] Like reference numbers and designations in the various
drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] The following description is directed to certain
implementations for the purposes of describing the innovative
aspects of this disclosure. However, a person having ordinary skill
in the art will readily recognize that the teachings herein can be
applied in a multitude of different ways. The described
implementations may be implemented in any device or system that can
be configured to display an image, whether in motion (e.g., video)
or stationary (e.g., still image), and whether textual, graphical
or pictorial. More particularly, it is contemplated that the
described implementations may be included in or associated with a
variety of electronic devices such as, but not limited to: mobile
telephones, multimedia Internet enabled cellular telephones, mobile
television receivers, wireless devices, smartphones, Bluetooth.RTM.
devices, personal data assistants (PDAs), wireless electronic mail
receivers, hand-held or portable computers, netbooks, notebooks,
smartbooks, tablets, printers, copiers, scanners, facsimile
devices, GPS receivers/navigators, cameras, MP3 players,
camcorders, game consoles, wrist watches, clocks, calculators,
television monitors, flat panel displays, electronic reading
devices (i.e., e-readers), computer monitors, auto displays
(including odometer and speedometer displays, etc.), cockpit
controls and/or displays, camera view displays (such as the display
of a rear view camera in a vehicle), electronic photographs,
electronic billboards or signs, projectors, architectural
structures, microwaves, refrigerators, stereo systems, cassette
recorders or players, DVD players, CD players, VCRs, radios,
portable memory chips, washers, dryers, washer/dryers, parking
meters, packaging (such as in electromechanical systems (EMS),
microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and non-MEMS applications),
aesthetic structures (e.g., display of images on a piece of
jewelry) and a variety of EMS devices. The teachings herein also
can be used in non-display applications such as, but not limited
to, electronic switching devices, radio frequency filters, sensors,
accelerometers, gyroscopes, motion-sensing devices, magnetometers,
inertial components for consumer electronics, parts of consumer
electronics products, varactors, liquid crystal devices,
electrophoretic devices, drive schemes, manufacturing processes and
electronic test equipment. Thus, the teachings are not intended to
be limited to the implementations depicted solely in the Figures,
but instead have wide applicability as will be readily apparent to
one having ordinary skill in the art.
[0032] Described herein below are new techniques for an interactive
display with improved user input/output functionality. In some
implementations, a gesture-responsive user input/output (I/O)
interface for an electronic device is provided. "Gesture" as used
herein broadly refers to a gross motion of a user's hand, digit, or
hand-held object, or other object under control of the user. The
motion may be made proximate to, but not necessarily in direct
physical contact with, the electronic device. In some
implementations, the electronic device senses and reacts in a
deterministic way to a user's gesture. In some implementations, a
document scanning capability is provided.
[0033] Particular implementations of the subject matter described
in this disclosure can be implemented to realize one or more of the
following potential advantages. The presently disclosed techniques
provide a significant improvement in touch and/or gesture I/O using
an interactive field sequential color (FSC) display. The FSC
display includes a transparent substrate, such as a glass or other
transparent material, which has a rear surface on which MEMS
display components are disposed. The interactive display is
configured to determine the location and/or relative motion of a
user's touch or gesture proximate to the display, and/or to
register an image of the object.
[0034] Particular implementations of the subject matter described
in this disclosure can be implemented to realize one or more of the
following potential advantages. The user's gesture may occur over a
"full range" of view with respect to the interactive display. By
"full range" is meant that the gesture may be recognized, at a
first extreme, even when made very close to, or in physical contact
with, the interactive display; in other words, "blind spots"
exhibited by prior art camera systems are avoided. At a second
extreme, the gesture may be recognized at a substantial distance,
up to approximately 500 mm, from the interactive display, which is
not possible with known projective capacitive systems. The above
functionality may be provided by configuring the transparent
substrate with a light turning arrangement thereby avoiding the
cost and thickness associated with adding an additional light-guide
layer.
[0035] FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of an example of an electronic
device having an interactive display according to an
implementation. An apparatus 100, which may be, for example, a
personal electronic device (PED), may include an electronic display
110 and a processor 104. The electronic display 110 may be a touch
screen display, but this is not necessarily so. In some
implementations, the processor 104 may be configured to control an
output of the electronic display 110, or an electronic device (not
shown) communicatively coupled with apparatus 100. The processor
104 may control the output of the electronic display 110 in
response, at least in part, to a user input. The user input may
include a touch or a gesture, where the user gesture may include,
for example, a gross motion of a user's appendage, such as a hand
or a finger, or a handheld object or the like. The gesture may be
located, with respect to the electronic display 110, at a wide
range of distances. For example, a gesture may be made proximate
to, or even in direct physical contact with the electronic display
110. Alternatively, the gesture may be made at a substantial
distance, up to, approximately 500 mm from the electronic display
110. In some implementations, the processor 104 may be configured
to collect and process data received from the electronic display
110 regarding the user input. The data may include a characteristic
of a touch, gesture, or object related to the user input. The
characteristic may include location and motion information of a
touch or a gesture, or image data, for example.
[0036] An arrangement 130 (examples of which are described and
illustrated herein below) may be disposed substantially parallel to
a front surface of the electronic display 110. In an
implementation, the arrangement 130 may be substantially
transparent and optically coupled to the electronic display 110,
such that at least most light emitted by a display lighting system
(not shown) of the electronic display 110 is transmitted through
the arrangement 130. The arrangement 130 may output one or more
signals responsive to light received from the display lighting
system and/or a source exterior to the electronic display 110. In
some implementations, the signals may be responsive to light
reflected into the arrangement 130 from a user's appendage, an
object or a document, for example.
[0037] In some implementations, signals outputted by the
arrangement 130, via a first signal path 103, may be analyzed by
the processor 104 so as to recognize an instance of a user input,
such as a touch or a gesture. The processor 104 may then control
the electronic display 110, responsive to the user input, by way of
signals sent to the electronic display 110 via a second signal path
105. In some implementations, signals outputted by the arrangement
130, via the first signal path 103, may be analyzed so as to obtain
image data.
[0038] FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C show an example of an arrangement
including a transparent substrate and a light sensor. In the
illustrated implementation, the arrangement 130 includes a
transparent substrate 135 and a light sensor 133. Referring now to
FIG. 1B, which may be referred to as a perspective view, the
arrangement 130 is illustrated as being disposed above and
substantially parallel to an upper surface of the electronic
display 110. The light sensor 133 is shown disposed proximate to
the periphery of the transparent substrate 135. In the illustrated
implementation, the perimeter of the transparent substrate 135 is
substantially coextensive with the perimeter of the electronic
display 110. Advantageously, the perimeter of the transparent
substrate 135 is coextensive with, or is larger than and fully
envelopes, the perimeter of the electronic display 110.
[0039] Although one light sensor 133 is shown in the illustrated
implementation, it will be appreciated that numerous other
arrangements are possible. Any number of light sensors may be used,
and light sensors may be disposed on or near a single side, or
adjacent or opposite sides, or three or four sides of the
transparent substrate 135, for example. In some implementations,
the light sensor 133 may be disposed above or below the transparent
substrate 135. Advantageously, the light sensor 133 may be disposed
near, either within or outside of, the perimeter of the transparent
substrate 135. The light sensor 133 may include one or more
photosensitive elements, such photodiodes, phototransistors, charge
coupled device (CCD) arrays, complementary metal oxide
semiconductor (CMOS) arrays or other suitable devices operable to
output a signal representative of a characteristic of detected
visible light. The light sensor 133 may output signals
representative of color of detected light, for example. In some
implementations, the signals may also be representative of other
characteristics, including intensity, polarization directionality,
frequency, amplitude, amplitude modulation, and/or other
properties.
[0040] In the illustrated implementation, the light sensor 133 is
disposed at the periphery of the transparent substrate 135.
Alternative configurations are within the contemplation of the
present disclosure, however. For example, the light sensor 133 may
be remote from the transparent substrate 135, in which case light
detected by the light sensor 133 may be received from the
transparent substrate 135 by way of additional optical elements
such as, for example, one or more optical fibers (not
illustrated).
[0041] The transparent substrate 135 may be optically coupled to
the electronic display 110. The transparent substrate 135 may be
substantially transparent such that at least most light 143 from
the electronic display 110 passes through the transparent substrate
135 and may be observed by a user (not illustrated).
[0042] The transparent substrate 135 may include a substantially
transparent, relatively thin, overlay disposed on, or proximate to,
the front surface of the electronic display 110. Advantageously,
the transparent substrate 135, which may also be referred to herein
as a top glass or MEMS glass, may be a substantially transparent
material, such as a glass, having a rear surface 169 proximate to
which components of electronic display 110 may be disposed. For
example, a thin film transistor (TFT) layer, shutters, and
associated microelectromechanical (MEM) components, as described in
more detail hereinbelow may be disposed on or behind the rear
surface 169.
[0043] In some implementations, for example, the transparent
substrate 135 may be approximately 0.5 mm thick, while having a
planar area in an approximate range of tens or hundreds of square
centimeters. The transparent material may have an index of
refraction greater than 1. For example, the index of refraction may
be in the range of about 1.4 to 1.6. The index of refraction of the
transparent material determines a critical angle `a` with respect
to a normal to the material surface such that a light ray
intersecting the surface at an angle less than `a` will pass
through the surface, but a light ray intersecting the surface at an
angle greater than `a` will undergo total internal reflection
(TIR).
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 1C, when an object 150 interacts with
light 142 (which may be referred to herein as "object illuminating
light") from the electronic display 110, scattered light 144,
resulting from the interaction, may be directed toward the
transparent substrate 135. The object 150 may be, for example, a
user's appendage, such as a hand or a finger, or it may be any
physical object, hand-held or otherwise under control of the user,
including a document to be imaged, but is herein referred to, for
simplicity, as the "object."
[0045] The transparent substrate 135 may be configured to collect
the scattered light 144. Advantageously, the transparent substrate
135 may include a light-turning arrangement that redirects the
scattered light 144, toward the light sensor 133. The light-turning
arrangement may include a number of light turning elements 166,
described in more detail hereinbelow. Redirected scattered light
146 may be turned in a direction having a substantial component
parallel to the upper surface of the electronic display 110. More
particularly, at least a portion of the redirected scattered light
146 intersects a front surface 167 of the transparent substrate 135
and the rear surface 169 of the transparent substrate 135 only at
an angle to normal greater than critical angle `.alpha.` and,
therefore, undergoes TIR. As a result, such redirected scattered
light 146 does not pass through the front surface 167 or the rear
surface 169 and, instead, reaches the light sensor 133. The light
sensor 133 may be configured to detect one or more characteristics
of the redirected scattered light 146, and output, to the processor
104, a signal representative of the detected characteristics. For
example, the characteristics may include intensity, polarization,
directionality, frequency, amplitude, amplitude modulation, and/or
other properties.
[0046] In some implementations, the light turning elements 166 may
include reflective or refractive microstructures, holographic film,
volume holograms, and/or surface relief gratings that turn light by
diffraction and/or surface roughness that turn light by scattering.
In some implementations, the light turning elements 166 may be
configured as films laminated to the transparent substrate 135. In
some implementations, the light turning elements 166 may be
configured as a dielectric or metal layer deposited on the
transparent substrate 135. The light turning elements 166 may be
holographic, diffractive, or refractive, for example.
[0047] In the illustrated implementation, the light turning
elements 166 are shown to be disposed near the rear surface 169 of
the transparent substrate 135, but other implementations are within
the contemplation of the present disclosure. For example, the light
turning elements 166 may be disposed near a front surface of the
transparent substrate 135.
[0048] Referring again to FIG. 1A, the processor 104 may be
configured to receive, from the light sensor 133, signals
representative of the detected characteristics, via the first
signal path 103. The processor 104 may be configured to recognize,
from the output signals of the light sensor 133, an instance of a
user gesture. Moreover, the processor 104 may control one or more
of the electronic display 110, other elements of the apparatus 100,
and/or an electronic device (not shown) communicatively coupled
with apparatus 100. For example, an image displayed on the
electronic display 110 may be caused to be scrolled up or down,
rotated, enlarged, or otherwise modified. In addition, the
processor 104 may be configured to control other aspects of the
apparatus 100, responsive to the user gesture, such as, for
example, changing a volume setting, turning power off, placing or
terminating a call, launching or terminating a software
application, etc.
[0049] The electronic display 110 may include an arrangement for
spatial light modulation. FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of
an example of an arrangement for spatial light modulation of an
interactive display. The arrangement 111 (which may be referred to
as the "light modulation array") may include a plurality of light
modulators 112a-112d (generally, "light modulators 112") arranged
in rows and columns.
[0050] Each light modulator 112 may include a corresponding
aperture 119. Each light modulator 112 may also include a
corresponding shutter 118, or another means to switch the
corresponding aperture 119 between an open position and a shut
position. In order to render an image 114, the electronic display
110 may be configured to switch the light modulators in a time
domain in accordance with a particular modulation scheme (the
"first modulation scheme"). For example, to illuminate a pixel 116
of the image 114, a shutter 118 corresponding to the pixel is in an
open position that permits transmittance of light from a display
lighting system (not illustrated) through the corresponding
aperture 119 toward a viewer (not illustrated). To keep the pixel
116 unlit, the corresponding shutter 118 is positioned such that it
blocks light transmission through the corresponding aperture 119.
Each aperture 119 may be defined by an opening provided in a
reflective or light-absorbing layer, for example.
[0051] In the illustrated configuration, light modulators 112a and
112d are switched to an open position, whereas light modulators
112b and 112c are switched to a shut position. As a result of
selectively switching the positions of the light modulators
112a-112d in accordance with the first modulation scheme, the
electronic display 110 may render the image 114, as describe in
more detail herein below. In some implementations, the first
modulation scheme may be controlled by a computer processing
arrangement that may be part of or may be communicatively coupled
with the processor 104.
[0052] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an interactive display
incorporating a light modulation array. The electronic display 110
includes the light modulation array 111, an optical cavity 113, and
a display lighting system 115. The light modulation array 111 may
include any number of light modulators 112, as described
hereinabove and illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown in the
implementation illustrated in FIG. 3, each light modulator may
include a corresponding shutter 118 and be configured to be
switched between an open position and a shut position. In the
illustrated implementation, for example, the shutters 118(a) and
118(c) are depicted in the open position, whereas, the shutter
118(b) is depicted in the closed position. Advantageously, the
light modulators may be disposed on or proximate to the rear
surface 169 of the transparent substrate 135.
[0053] In some implementations, the optical cavity 113 may be
formed from a light guide that may be about 300 microns to about 2
mm thick, for example. The display lighting system 115 may be
configured to emit light 343 into the optical cavity 113.
Advantageously, at least a portion of the light 343 may undergo TIR
and be distributed substantially uniformly throughout the optical
cavity 113 as a result of judicious placement of light scattering
elements (not illustrated) on one or more surfaces enclosing the
optical cavity 113. For example, some light scattering elements may
be formed in or on the rear enclosure of the optical cavity 113 to
aid in redirecting the light 343 through the apertures 119.
[0054] The electronic display 110 may be referred to as a field
sequential color (FSC) display, because, in some implementations,
images are rendered by operating the display lighting system 115 so
as to sequentially alternate the color of visible light emitted by
the display lighting system 115. For example, the display lighting
system 115 may emit a sequence of separate flashes of red, green
and blue light. Synchronized with the sequence of flashes, a
sequence of respective red, green and blue images may be rendered
by appropriate switching, in accordance with the first modulation
scheme, of the light modulators 112 in the light modulation array
111 to respective open or shut positions.
[0055] As a result of the persistence of vision phenomenon, a
viewer of rapidly changing images, for example, images changing at
frequencies of greater than 20 Hz, may perceive an image which is
the combination, or approximate average, of the images displayed
within a particular period. In some implementations, the first
modulation scheme may be adapted to utilize this phenomenon so as
to render color images while using as few as a single light
modulator for each pixel of a display.
[0056] For example, in a color FSC display, the first modulation
scheme may include dividing an image frame to be displayed into a
number of sub-frame images, each corresponding to a particular
color component (for example, red, green, or blue) of the original
image frame. For each sub-frame image, the light modulators of the
display are set into states corresponding to the color component's
contribution to the image. The light modulators then are
illuminated by a light emitter of the corresponding color. The
sub-images are displayed in sequence at a frequency (for example,
greater than 60 Hz) sufficient for the brain to perceive the series
of sub-frame images as a single image.
[0057] As a result, an FSC display may require only a single light
modulator per pixel, instead of a pixel requiring a separate
spatial light modulator for each of three or more color filters.
Advantageously, an FSC display may not suffer a loss of power
efficiency due to absorption in a color filter and may make maximum
use of the color purities available from modern light emitting
diodes (LEDs), thereby providing a range of colors exceeding those
available from color filters, i.e. a wider color gamut.
[0058] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an interactive display
according to an implementation. In the illustrated implementation,
an interactive FSC display 400 includes a front surface 401, the
transparent substrate 135, the light sensor 133, the light
modulation array 111, the optical cavity 113 and a display lighting
system 415. The interactive FSC display 400 may be configured to
render color images, visible to a user through the front surface
401, by sequentially flashing one or more wavelength specific light
emitters of the display lighting system 415 into the optical cavity
113, while synchronously performing spatial light modulation
according to the first modulation scheme. In the illustrated
implementation, the display lighting system 415 includes three
wavelength specific light emitters, designated R (red), B (blue)
and G (green). It will be appreciated, however, that other
arrangements of wavelength specific light emitters are possible.
For example, in addition to, or instead of one or more of the RGB
light emitters, light emitters of white, yellow, or cyan color may
be included in the display lighting system 415.
[0059] In the illustrated implementation, the display lighting
system 415 is a backlight, however implementations including only a
frontlight or both a frontlight and a backlight are within the
contemplation of the present disclosure.
[0060] The light modulation array 111 may include an array of light
modulators as described hereinabove. As shown in the illustrated
implementation, each light modulator may include corresponding
shutter 118 and be configured to be switched between an open
position and a shut position. For example, in the illustrated
implementation, the shutters 118(a) and 118 (c) are each in the
open position, and the shutter 118(b) is in the closed position.
Advantageously, the light modulators may be disposed on or
proximate to the rear surface 169 of the transparent substrate
135.
[0061] In some implementations, the transparent substrate 135 may
be disposed between the display lighting system 415 and the front
surface 401. The transparent substrate 135 may be substantially
parallel to the front surface 401 and have a periphery at least
coextensive with a viewing area of the interactive FSC display
400.
[0062] As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the object 150 interacts with
object illuminating light 442, scattered light 444, resulting from
the interaction, may be directed toward the transparent substrate
135. The object 150 may be, for example, a user's appendage, such
as a hand or a finger, or it may be any physical object, hand-held
or otherwise under control of the user, including a document to be
imaged, but is herein referred to, for simplicity, as the
"object."
[0063] The transparent substrate 135 may be configured to collect
the scattered light 444. Advantageously, the transparent substrate
135 may include a light-turning arrangement (not illustrated) that
redirects the scattered light 444 toward the light sensor 133.
Redirected scattered light 446 may be turned in a direction having
a substantial component parallel to the front surface 401. More
particularly, at least a portion of the redirected collected
scattered light 446 may be redirected at an angle to normal greater
than critical angle `.alpha.` and, therefore, may undergo TIR until
reaching the light sensor 133. The light sensor 133 may be
configured to detect one or more characteristics of the redirected
scattered light 446, and output, to a processor (not illustrated),
a signal representative of the detected characteristics. For
example, the characteristics may include intensity, polarization,
directionality, frequency, amplitude, amplitude modulation, and/or
other properties.
[0064] Although a single light sensor 133 is illustrated in FIG. 4,
it will be appreciated that any number of light sensors 133 may be
disposed about or proximate to a periphery of the transparent
substrate 135. In various implementations contemplated by the
present disclosure, the number of light sensors may range from
about four light sensors to some thousands of light sensors, for
example.
[0065] In some implementations, there may be one or more optical
components disposed between the transparent substrate 135 and the
light sensor 133. For example, an aperture array, a mask, a lens, a
lens array, or another method of focusing light, increasing
efficiency, or better discriminating angular versus spatial
information for the redirected scattered light 446 may be
provided.
[0066] Spatial light modulation may be performed to produce a
rendered image by switching a selected subset of the shutters 118
to an open position in accordance with the first modulation scheme.
In some implementations, switching of the shutters 118 may be
performed in synchronization with sequential flashing of the one or
more wavelength specific light emitters of the display lighting
system 415.
[0067] For example, a green wavelength specific light emitter of
the display lighting system 415 may be configured to emit light 443
("image rendering light") into the optical cavity 113.
Advantageously, at least a portion of the image rendering light 443
may undergo TIR and be distributed substantially uniformly
throughout the optical cavity 113. A portion of the image rendering
light 443 may be transmitted through one or more of the apertures
119 and contribute to the rendered image.
[0068] In the illustrated implementation, the green light emitter
of the display lighting system 415 is also configured to emit the
object illuminating light 442 into the optical cavity 113. At least
a portion of the object illuminating light 442 may undergo TIR and
be distributed substantially uniformly throughout the optical
cavity 113.
[0069] It should be noted that, in the illustrated implementation,
the object illuminating light 442 and the image rendering light 443
are depicted as geometrically different ray traces only for clarity
of illustration, and that the primary distinction between the
object illuminating light 442 and the image rendering light 443 is
temporal and/or spectral, rather than spatial. In the illustrated
implementation, for example, where the image rendering light 443
and the object illuminating light 442 may have the same wavelength,
the image rendering light 443 and the object illuminating light 442
may be emitted by the display lighting system 415 at different
times, for example as part of different sub-frames. As a further
example, the object illuminating light 442 may be visible light
emitted during a document scanning operation during which the
display viewing area is not ordinarily observable by a user.
[0070] In some implementations, the object illuminating light 442
may be light of a different wavelength than the image rendering
light 443. For example, the object illuminating light 442 may be of
a nonvisible wavelength such as infrared (IR) or near IR. In such
implementations, temporal separation between the object
illuminating light 442 and the image rendering light 443 may or may
not also be provided.
[0071] The present inventors have appreciated that an optical touch
and gesture recognition functionality, as well as a document
scanning capability, may be provided by using the object
illuminating light 442. More particularly, light modulators may be
switched in accordance with a second modulation scheme to
selectively pass the object illuminating light 442 through at least
one of the respective apertures, the object illuminating light 442
being at least partially unrelated to the rendered image. In some
implementations, a document scanning capability may also be
provided by substantially similar hardware.
[0072] Advantageously, the second modulation scheme may provide
that the object illuminating light 442 is passed only when there is
one or both of temporal separation and spectral separation with
respect to the image rendering light 443. In some implementations,
the second modulation scheme may provide for interspersing of
sub-frames during which the object illuminating light 442 is passed
with sub-frames during which the image rendering light 443 is
passed. For example, where the object illuminating light 442 is at
an IR wavelength, and the image rendering light 443 is passed in a
series of groups of sub-frames of visible red, green and blue image
patterns, the second modulation scheme may provide that an IR
emitter is flashed between each group of sub-frames. In some
implementations a group of sub-frames may include ten sub-frames
each of visible red, green and blue image patterns, for
example.
[0073] In some implementations, the second modulation scheme may
provide, periodically, a "blank" sub-frame, during which the
display lighting system is caused to turn off all light sources.
During such a blank sub-frame, a level of ambient light proximate
to the interactive FSC display 400 may be determined, for
example.
[0074] FIG. 5 illustrates a further example of an interactive
display, according to an implementation. In the illustrated
implementation, the interactive FSC display 500 includes an IR
emitter 575 that may be configured to emit IR light into the
optical cavity 113. Emitted IR light 542 may strike the object 150
and be scattered back toward the front surface 401. The object may
be on or above the front surface 401. Scattered light 544 resulting
from interaction of the emitted IR light 542 with the object 150
may interact with a light-turning arrangement (not shown) within
the transparent substrate 135 so as to be turned ("redirected")
toward an IR sensor 533. The IR sensor 533 may be configured to
output, to a processor (not shown), a signal representative of a
characteristic of redirected scattered light 546. The processor may
be configured to recognize, from the output of the IR sensor 533,
the characteristic of the object 150.
[0075] In some implementations, a wavelength of the IR light may be
within a range that inexpensive silicon detectors may detect (700
nm to 1000 nm wavelength, for example).
[0076] The light-turning arrangement may be configured to capture
light that is coming into the transparent substrate 135 via the
front surface 401 of the interactive display and turn the captured
light toward the periphery of the transparent substrate 135. More
particularly, the scattered light 544 may be redirected to an angle
larger than the critical angle of the glass or other transparent
material of which the transparent substrate 135 may be composed.
The redirected scattered light 546 may be guided by
total-internal-reflection (TIR) within the transparent substrate
135 to the edges of the transparent substrate 135. The light
turning arrangement may include elements disposed on either or both
of an upper and lower surface of the first light guide transparent
substrate 135 and may include holographic, diffractive, refractive,
and/or reflective elements.
[0077] In some implementations, the light turning elements may be
selectively located in areas not directly above the pixel
apertures, e.g. in regions `A` of transparent substrate 135.
Advantageously, because the shutter aperture area of an FSC display
is a relatively small fraction (e.g., one tenth to one half) of a
total viewing area of the interactive FSC display 500, a
significant portion of the transparent substrate 135 may be
occupied by light turning elements without any appreciable quality
degradation of a displayed image.
[0078] FIG. 6 illustrates a yet further example of an interactive
display, according to an implementation. In the illustrated
implementations, the interactive FSC display 600 includes light
turning elements 666 disposed proximate to an upper surface of the
transparent substrate 135. The light turning elements 666 may serve
to redirect scattered light 544, via refraction or diffraction for
example, so that the redirected scattered light 546 undergoes TIR
within the transparent substrate 135. In some implementations, the
light turning elements 666 may be configured as films laminated to
the transparent substrate 135. In some implementations, the light
turning elements 666 may be configured as a dielectric or metal
layer deposited on the transparent substrate 135. The light turning
elements 666 may be holographic, diffractive, or refractive, for
example.
[0079] FIG. 7 illustrates another example of an interactive
display, according to an implementation. In the illustrated
implementations, the interactive FSC display 700 includes light
turning elements 766 disposed proximate to a lower surface of
transparent substrate 135. The light turning elements 766 may serve
to redirect scattered light 544, via reflection or refraction for
example, so that redirected scattered light 546 undergoes TIR
within transparent substrate 140. In some implementations, the
light turning elements 766 may be deposited and/or patterned onto
the transparent substrate 140 prior to fabrication of TFT layer 781
onto transparent substrate 135. In some implementations, the light
turning elements 766 may be configured as geometric refractive or
reflective features such as cones or pyramids, for example.
[0080] FIG. 8 illustrates a further example of an interactive
display, according to an implementation. In the illustrated
implementations, the interactive FSC display 800 includes micro
structures 866 disposed within TFT layer 781 that may be used as
light turning elements. Micro structures 866 may include TFT
circuitry and/or structures associated with support and control of
shutters 118 (FIG. 3). In the implementation illustrated in FIG. 8,
microstructures 866 may serve to redirect the scattered IR light
544 into the transparent substrate 135. In some implementations, a
partial layer 891 of a coating material or mask may be disposed
proximate to a back surface of the transparent substrate 135. In
some implementations, the partial layer 891 may be opaque to
visible light but be substantially transparent to IR light.
Advantageously, the partial layers 891 may be selectively located
in regions of transparent substrate 135 spatially removed from
corresponding apertures 119.
[0081] Microstructures 866 may be disposed so as to selectively
redirect scattered light 544 of a particular wavelength. For
example, where scattered light 544 is IR light, a layout of
microstructures 866 may be configured to have line spacing similar
to the groove spacing of an optical grating optimized for IR
light.
[0082] As indicated above, outputs of the IR sensor 533 may
indicate one or more characteristics of the object 150. Such
characteristics include location, motion, and image characteristics
of the object 150. Particular implementations for obtaining
location and motion characteristics, which may relate to a user
input including a touch or a gesture, are described hereinbelow. In
such implementations, the second modulation scheme may include
selectively opening of light modulators according to one or more
scanning patterns. A scanning pattern may be selected in view of a
combination of various configurations of one or more light sensors
and light turning arrangements. In order to provide a better
understanding of features and benefits of the presently disclosed
techniques, illustrative examples of scanning patterns will now be
described.
[0083] In some implementations, a scanning pattern may resemble a
raster scan. FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a scanning pattern
for a second modulation scheme in accordance with some
implementations. In the illustrated arrangement 900, the second
modulation scheme includes selectively switching of light
modulators to the open position in a temporal sequence according to
a scanning pattern 901. As a result, object illuminating light may
be passed through a sequentially through a series of apertures, or
blocks of apertures according to the scanning pattern 901, where
each aperture is associated with a respective pixel. As a result,
substantially all of the viewing area of the electronic display 110
may be encompassed by the scanning pattern 901.
[0084] In some implementations, a raster scan line may be composed
of a series of adjacent apertures. However, taking into account
that apertures are typically much smaller in size than the object
150, it may be advantageous to scan blocks of apertures. For
example, referring to Detail A, each pixel block may include
multiple apertures and be approximately one to 25 square
millimeters in size. Two or more blocks in a successive series of
blocks of apertures may include at least some apertures in common.
That is, in some implementations, there may be an overlap of
apertures between a first block of apertures and a second,
succeeding or preceding block of pixels.
[0085] It will be appreciated that the illustrated scanning pattern
901 is only an illustrative aspect of a feature of the second
modulation scheme. Other scanning patterns are within the
contemplation of the present disclosure. For example, a spiral
scanning pattern may be implemented.
[0086] FIG. 10 illustrates a further example of a scanning pattern
for a second modulation scheme in accordance with some
implementations. In such implementation, a total viewing area of
the electronic display 110 is treated as separate regions, with
each separate region being separately scanned. In the illustrated
implementation 1000, for example, the total viewing area of the
electronic display 110 is treated as four separate quadrants.
Scanning of each region by way of a scanning pattern 1001 may be
performed, advantageously, in parallel. As a result, in each
sub-frame in which object illuminating light is to be emitted
through an open aperture, at least one aperture of a respective
scanning pattern in each quadrant may be switched to an open
position. Although in the illustrated implementation, a similar
scanning pattern 1001 is executed in four similarly sized
quadrants, it will be appreciated that other arrangements are
within the contemplation of the present disclosure. One or more the
separate regions may be of a different size, for example. As a
further example, a scanning pattern for any region may be different
from a scanning pattern region for another region.
[0087] It will be appreciated that selectively switching of light
modulators to the open position in a temporal sequence according to
a scanning pattern as described above may be performed in
synchronization with flashes of one or more wavelength specific
light emitters of the display lighting system 415. Referring again
to FIG. 5, blocks of light modulators may be switched to the open
position sequentially according to the scanning, in synchronization
with flashes of IR emitter 575, for example. In the illustrated
implementation a display lighting system 515 included the IR
emitter 575, but this is not necessarily so. When the object 150 is
approximately above a block of light modulators switched to the
open position, the object 150 will interact with the emitted IR
light 542. The scattered light 544 resulting from interaction of
the emitted IR light 542 with the object 150 may interact with a
light-turning arrangement (not shown) within the transparent
substrate 135 so as to be turned ("redirected") toward the IR
sensor 533. The IR sensor 533 may be configured to output, to a
processor (not shown), a signal representative of a characteristic
of the received, redirected scattered light 546. The processor may
be configured to recognize, from the output of the IR sensor 533,
the characteristic of the object 150, such as location and relative
motion, for example.
[0088] As noted above, a scanning pattern may be selected in view
of a combination of various configurations of one or more light
sensors and light turning arrangements. In order to provide a
better understanding of features and benefits of the presently
disclosed techniques, illustrative examples of various
configurations of light sensor and light turning arrangements will
now be described.
[0089] FIG. 11 shows an example of a light turning arrangement and
light sensors, according to an implementation. The illustrated
implementation includes a single IR light sensor 533 and a
transparent substrate 1135 including a light turning arrangement
that includes light turning elements 1166 that, at least in
aggregate, turn the scattered light 544 in a substantially
omnidirectional manner. The light turning elements 1166 may include
microstructures such as reflective or refractive cones, screen
printed scattering dots, bubbles, hologram, diffractive features,
or the like. The scattered light 544 received by the transparent
substrate 1135, interacting with such light turning elements, may
be turned omnidirectionally in the x-z plane by the light turning
arrangement. The redirected scattered light 546 may be turned in a
direction having a substantial component parallel to the upper
surface x-z plane, and undergo TIR. As a result of
omnidirectionally turning the scattered light 544, a portion of the
redirected scattered light 546 will reach the light sensor 533.
[0090] Light modulators may be selectively switched to the open
position in a temporal sequence according to a scanning pattern in
synchronization with flashes of one or more IR light emitters of
the display lighting system. When the object 150 is approximately
above a light modulator, or block of light modulators, switched to
the open position, the object 150 may interact with the emitted IR
light 542. The scattered light 544 resulting from interaction of
the emitted IR light 542 with the object 150 may interact with the
light-turning arrangement, as described above, and the portion of
redirected scattered light 546 may reach the IR light sensor 533.
IR light sensor 533 may be configured to output, to a processor
(not shown), a signal representative of a characteristic of the
received, redirected scattered light 546. The processor may be
configured to recognize, from the output of the IR sensor 533, the
location and/or relative motion of the object 150, for example.
[0091] FIG. 12 shows an example of a light turning arrangement and
light sensors, according to a further implementation. The
illustrated implementation includes a single IR light sensor 533
and a transparent substrate 1235 including a light turning
arrangement that includes light turning elements 1266 that, at
least in aggregate, turn the scattered light 544 toward a focal
point. The light turning elements 1266 may be configured with
directional turning features, such as curvilinear grooves or
ridges, holographic, or diffractive features, for example.
[0092] Advantageously, the scattered light 544 received by the
transparent substrate 1235, interacting with such light turning
elements, may be turned directionally toward the IR light sensor
533. The redirected scattered light 546 may be turned in a
direction having a substantial component parallel to the upper
surface x-z plane, and undergo TIR. As a result of directionally
turning the scattered light 544, at least a large fraction of the
redirected scattered light 546 may reach the IR light sensor
533.
[0093] Light modulators may be selectively switched to the open
position in a temporal sequence according to a scanning pattern in
synchronization with flashes of one or more IR light emitters of
the display lighting system. When the object 150 is approximately
above a light modulator, or block of light modulators, switched to
the open position, the object 150 may interact with the emitted IR
light 542. The scattered light 544 resulting from interaction of
the emitted IR light 542 with the object 150 may interact with the
light-turning arrangement, as described above, and the portion of
the redirected scattered light 546 may reach the IR light sensor
533. The IR light sensor 533 may be configured to output, to a
processor (not shown), a signal representative of a characteristic
of the redirected scattered light 546. The processor may be
configured to recognize, from the output of the IR sensor 533, the
location and/or relative motion of the object 150, for example.
[0094] FIG. 13 shows an example of a light turning arrangement and
light sensors, according to a yet further implementation. The
illustrated implementation includes four IR light sensors 533 and a
transparent substrate 1335. The transparent substrate 1335 includes
a light turning arrangement that includes four regions, each region
including light turning elements 1366 that, at least in aggregate,
turn the scattered light 544 toward a respective focal point. The
light turning elements 1366 may be configured with directional
turning features, such as curvilinear grooves or ridges,
holographic, or diffractive features, for example.
[0095] Advantageously, the scattered light 544 received by the
transparent substrate 1335, interacting with such light turning
elements, may be turned directionally toward the respective IR
light sensor 533. The redirected scattered light 546 may be turned
in a direction having a substantial component parallel to the upper
surface x-z plane, and undergo TIR. As a result of directionally
turning the scattered light 544, at least a large fraction of the
redirected scattered light 546 may reach the respective IR light
sensor 533.
[0096] Light modulators may be selectively switched to the open
position in a temporal sequence according to a scanning pattern in
synchronization with flashes of one or more IR light emitters of
the display lighting system. When the object 150 is approximately
above a light modulator, or block of light modulators, switched to
the open position, the object 150 may interact with the emitted IR
light 542. The scattered light 544 resulting from interaction of
the emitted IR light 542 with the object 150 may interact with the
light-turning arrangement, as described above, and the large
fraction of the redirected scattered light 546 may reach the
respective IR light sensor 533. Each IR light sensor 533 may be
configured to output, to a processor (not shown), a signal
representative of a characteristic of the redirected scattered
light 546. The processor may be configured to recognize, from the
output of each IR sensor 533, the location and/or relative motion
of the object 150, for example.
[0097] It will be appreciated that a scanning pattern whereby
multiple regions are scanned in parallel, such as that described
above in connection with FIG. 13, may advantageously be used in
combination with the implementation illustrated in FIG. 13. Such a
combination may increase the scanning speed, or increase the
achievable resolution for a given scanning speed, for example.
[0098] FIG. 14 shows an example of a light turning arrangement and
light sensors, according to a yet further implementation. The
illustrated implementation includes a number of IR light sensors
533 disposed along a first side of a transparent substrate 1435.
The transparent substrate 1435 includes a light turning arrangement
that includes light turning elements 1466 that, at least in
aggregate, turn the scattered light 544 toward the first side of
the transparent substrate 1435. The light turning elements 1466 may
be configured with directional turning features, such as linear
grooves or ridges, holographic, or diffractive features, for
example.
[0099] Advantageously, the scattered light 544 received by the
transparent substrate 1435, interacting with such light turning
elements, may be turned directionally toward the respective IR
light sensor 533. The redirected scattered light 546 may be turned
in a direction having a substantial component parallel to the upper
surface x-z plane, and undergo TIR. As a result of directionally
turning the scattered light 544, at least a large fraction of the
redirected scattered light 546 may reach one or more of the IR
light sensors 533.
[0100] Light modulators may be selectively switched to the open
position in a temporal sequence according to a scanning pattern in
synchronization with flashes of one or more IR light emitters of
the display lighting system. When the object 150 is approximately
above a light modulator, or block of light modulators, switched to
the open position, the object 150 may interact with the emitted IR
light 542. The scattered light 544 resulting from interaction of
the emitted IR light 542 with the object 150 may interact with the
light-turning arrangement, as described above, and the large
fraction of redirected scattered light 546 may reach one or more of
the IR light sensors 533. Each IR light sensor 533 may be
configured to output, to a processor (not shown), a signal
representative of a characteristic of the received, redirected
scattered light 546. The processor may be configured to recognize,
from the output of each IR sensor 533, the location and/or relative
motion of the object 150, for example.
[0101] The redirected scattered light 546 may reach two or more IR
light sensors 533 and each IR light sensor 533 may be configured to
output, to a processor (not shown), respective signals
representative of a characteristic of the respectively received
redirected scattered light 546. In some implementations the
processor may be configured to weigh the signals received from the
two or more IR light sensors 533 in order to more precisely
recognize, from the output of each IR sensor 533, the location
and/or relative motion of the object 150, for example.
[0102] FIG. 15 shows an example of a light turning arrangement and
light sensors, according to another implementation. The illustrated
implementation includes a number of IR light sensors 533 disposed
along each of two adjacent sides of transparent substrate 1535. The
transparent substrate 1535 includes a light turning arrangement
that includes light turning elements 1566 that, at least in
aggregate, turn the scattered light 544 towards a first side of the
transparent substrate 1535 and a second, adjacent side of the
transparent substrate 1535. The light turning elements 1566 may
include microstructures such as reflective or refractive pyramids
or cones, or be configured with holographic or diffractive
features, for example. Advantageously, the scattered light 544
received by the transparent substrate 1535, interacting with such
light turning elements, may be turned directionally toward the IR
light sensors 533 disposed on the first side and/or the second
side. The redirected scattered light 546 may be turned in a
direction having a substantial component parallel to the upper
surface x-z plane, and undergo TIR. As a result of directionally
turning the scattered light 544, at least a large fraction of the
redirected scattered light 546 may reach one or more of the IR
light sensors 533.
[0103] Light modulators may be selectively switched to the open
position in a temporal sequence according to a scanning pattern in
synchronization with flashes of one or more IR light emitters of
the display lighting system. When the object 150 is approximately
above a light modulator, or block of light modulators, switched to
the open position, the object 150 may interact with the emitted IR
light 542. The scattered light 544 resulting from interaction of
the emitted IR light 542 with the object 150 may interact with the
light-turning arrangement, as described above, and the large
fraction of the redirected scattered light 546 may reach one or
more of the IR light sensors 533. Each IR light sensor 533 may be
configured to output, to a processor (not shown), a signal
representative of a characteristic of the redirected scattered
light 546. The processor may be configured to recognize, from the
output of each IR sensor 533, the location and/or relative motion
of the object 150, for example.
[0104] The redirected scattered light 546 may reach two or more IR
light sensors 533 and each IR light sensor 533 may be configured to
output, to a processor (not shown), respective signals
representative of a characteristic of the respectively received
redirected light 546. In some implementations the processor may be
configured to weigh the signals received from the two or more IR
light sensors 533 in order to more precisely recognize, from the
output of each IR sensor 533, the location and/or relative motion
of the object 150, for example.
[0105] Irrespective of the configuration of light turning
arrangement and light sensor(s), the second modulation scheme may
include a scanning pattern that includes blocks of apertures of a
selectably adjustable size. FIG. 16 shows an example of a scanning
pattern in which a size of aperture blocks may be adjusted. In such
implementations, the scanning pattern may be initiated with
relatively large blocks until a relatively course location of the
object 150 is recognized. Subsequently, the aperture block size may
be reduced, and scanning continued in a smaller region proximate to
the relatively course location. If desired this sequence may be
repeated one or more times. Advantageously, the above mentioned
implementations may reduce the number of necessary sub-frames,
increase the scanning speed, or increase the achievable resolution
with the same number of sub-frames.
[0106] In some implementations, documents or objects proximate to
the display may be scanned using visible light. FIG. 17 illustrates
an example of an interactive display, configured for document
scanning, according to an implementation. In the illustrated
implementation, it is shown how a color scan may be performed on an
object or document 1750 that is proximate to the front surface 401.
The object or document 1750 may be scanned by sequentially flashing
RGB light emitters of the display lighting system 415, and taking a
separate light sensor reading for each illumination sub-frame using
a visible (white) light sensor 1733.
[0107] For example, referring still to FIG. 17, the green light
emitter of the display lighting system 415 may be configured to
emit the object illuminating light 442 into the optical cavity 113.
At least a portion of the object illuminating light 442 may undergo
TIR and be distributed substantially uniformly throughout the
optical cavity 113.
[0108] At least a portion of the object illuminating light 442 may
be transmitted through a light modulator switched to the open
position, and interact with the object or document 1750. Scattered
light resulting from the interaction may be received by the
transparent substrate 135 via the front surface 401. More
particularly, the received light may be redirected to an angle
larger than the critical angle of the glass or other transparent
material of which the transparent substrate 135 may be composed.
The redirected scattered light 446 may be guided by
total-internal-reflection (TIR) within the transparent substrate
135 to the edges of the transparent substrate 135 and be received
by the light sensor 1733.
[0109] For clarity of illustration, FIG. 17 shows only a single
color of light being emitted through a single aperture. Consistent
with the techniques disclosed hereinabove however, a temporal
sequence of light emissions may be sequentially flashed by each of,
for example, the RGB light emitters of the display lighting system
415. Moreover, the presently disclosed document scanning technique
may be performed in conjunction with performing the second
modulation scheme that includes selectively opening of light
modulators according to one or more scanning patterns.
[0110] In some implementations, the RGB light emitters of the
display light system 415 may be simultaneously illuminated. FIG. 18
illustrates an example of an interactive display, configured for
document scanning, according to a further implementation. In the
illustrated implementation, it is shown how a color scan may be
performed on the object or document 1750 that is proximate to the
front surface 401. The object or document 1750 may be scanned by
simultaneously flashed RGB light emitters of the display lighting
system 415. In the illustrated implementation light sensor 1833
includes multiple photosensitive elements, each sensitized, by way
of respective filters, for example, to an individual color. Each
individual photosensitive element, for example, 1833R, 1833G and
1833B may output a separate signal reading for each illumination
sub-frame.
[0111] At least a portion of the object illuminating light 442R,
442G, and 442B may be transmitted through a light modulator
switched to the open position, and interact with the object or
document 1750. Scattered light resulting from the interaction may
be received by the transparent substrate 135 via the front surface
401. More particularly, the received light may be redirected to an
angle larger than the critical angle of the glass or other
transparent material of which the transparent substrate 135 may be
composed. The redirected scattered light 446R, 446G, and 446B may
be guided by total-internal-reflection (TIR) within the transparent
substrate 135 to the edges of the transparent substrate 135 and be
received by the light sensor 1833, including the individual light
sensing elements 1833R, 1833G, and 1833B.
[0112] For clarity of illustration, FIG. 18 shows light being
emitted only through a single aperture. Consistent with the
techniques disclosed hereinabove however, the presently disclosed
document scanning technique may be performed in conjunction with
performing the second modulation scheme that includes selectively
opening of light modulators according to one or more scanning
patterns.
[0113] FIG. 19 illustrates an example of a process flow for
recognizing a characteristic of an object with an FSC display
according to an embodiment. At block 1910 of process 1900, one or
more light modulators of an array of light modulators may be
switched in accordance with a first modulation scheme to render an
image, and in accordance with a second modulation scheme to
selectively pass object illuminating light through at least one of
the respective apertures. Advantageously, the object illuminating
light may be at least partially unrelated to the image. In some
implementations, the light modulators may be switched by a
processor configured to control the interactive display. As
described hereinabove, the interactive display may have a front
surface including a viewing area. The interactive display may
include a display lighting system and an arrangement for spatial
light modulation, the arrangement for spatial light modulation
including the array of light modulators. Each light modulator may
be configured to be switched between an open position that permits
transmittance of light from the display lighting system through a
respective aperture to the front surface and a shut position that
blocks light transmission through the respective aperture. A
transparent substrate may be disposed between the display lighting
system and the front surface and substantially parallel to the
front surface, and having a periphery at least coextensive with the
viewing area. At least one light sensor may be disposed outside the
periphery of the transparent substrate. The light modulators may be
micro electromechanical (MEM) devices disposed proximate to a rear
surface of the transparent substrate. The transparent substrate may
be configured to pass light emitted by the display lighting system
toward the front surface and to receive light reflected through the
front surface from an object, the transparent substrate including a
first light-turning arrangement that redirects a portion of the
received light toward the light sensor.
[0114] At block 1920, the light sensor may output to the processor
a signal representative of the characteristic of the received,
redirected light.
[0115] At block 1930, the processor may recognize, from the output
of the light sensor, a characteristic of the object. The
characteristic may include one or more of a location, or a motion
of the object, or image data. Advantageously, the processor may
control the display, responsive to the characteristic.
[0116] Thus, improved implementations relating to an interactive
FSC display have been disclosed. In some of the above described
implementations, the display lighting system may include light
sources configured to be fully or partially modulated at some
frequency or signal pattern. In such implementations, the processor
may include and/or be coupled with light sensor readout circuitry
that includes an active or passive electrical band-pass frequency
filter or other means to correlate the modulator signal pattern. In
addition to modulation, the intensity of the light sources may be
scaled to the (possibly lower or higher) appropriate amount of
light for scanning rather than displaying information.
[0117] The various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules,
circuits and algorithm steps described in connection with the
implementations disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic
hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. The
interchangeability of hardware and software has been described
generally, in terms of functionality, and illustrated in the
various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits and
steps described above. Whether such functionality is implemented in
hardware or software depends upon the particular application and
design constraints imposed on the overall system.
[0118] The hardware and data processing apparatus used to implement
the various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules and
circuits described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein
may be implemented or performed with a general purpose single- or
multi-chip processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field
programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,
discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or
any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described
herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or,
any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state
machine. A processor also may be implemented as a combination of
computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a
microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more
microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such
configuration. In some implementations, particular steps and
methods may be performed by circuitry that is specific to a given
function.
[0119] In one or more aspects, the functions described may be
implemented in hardware, digital electronic circuitry, computer
software, firmware, including the structures disclosed in this
specification and their structural equivalents thereof, or in any
combination thereof. Implementations of the subject matter
described in this specification also can be implemented as one or
more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer
program instructions, encoded on a computer storage media for
execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing
apparatus.
[0120] If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on
or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a
computer-readable medium. The steps of a method or algorithm
disclosed herein may be implemented in a processor-executable
software module which may reside on a computer-readable medium.
Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and
communication media including any medium that can be enabled to
transfer a computer program from one place to another. A storage
media may be any available media that may be accessed by a
computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such
computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or
other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic
storage devices, or any other medium that may be used to store
desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures
and that may be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection can be
properly termed a computer-readable medium. Disk and disc, as used
herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc,
digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and blu-ray disc where
disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce
data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above also may be
included within the scope of computer-readable media. Additionally,
the operations of a method or algorithm may reside as one or any
combination or set of codes and instructions on a machine readable
medium and computer-readable medium, which may be incorporated into
a computer program product.
[0121] Various modifications to the implementations described in
this disclosure may be readily apparent to those skilled in the
art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to
other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of
this disclosure. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to
the implementations shown herein, but are to be accorded the widest
scope consistent with this disclosure, the principles and the novel
features disclosed herein. The word "exemplary" is used exclusively
herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration."
Any implementation described herein as "exemplary" is not
necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other
possibilities or implementations. Additionally, a person having
ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate, the terms
"upper" and "lower" are sometimes used for ease of describing the
figures, and indicate relative positions corresponding to the
orientation of the figure on a properly oriented page, and may not
reflect the proper orientation of an apparatus as implemented.
[0122] Certain features that are described in this specification in
the context of separate implementations also can be implemented in
combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various
features that are described in the context of a single
implementation also can be implemented in multiple implementations
separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although
features may be described above as acting in certain combinations
and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a
claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the
combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a
subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
[0123] Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in
a particular order, a person having ordinary skill in the art will
readily recognize that such operations need not be performed in the
particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all
illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.
Further, the drawings may schematically depict one more example
processes in the form of a flow diagram. However, other operations
that are not depicted can be incorporated in the example processes
that are schematically illustrated. For example, one or more
additional operations can be performed before, after,
simultaneously, or between any of the illustrated operations. In
certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be
advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components
in the implementations described above should not be understood as
requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be
understood that the described program components and systems can
generally be integrated together in a single software product or
packaged into multiple software products. Additionally, other
implementations are within the scope of the following claims. In
some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a
different order and still achieve desirable results.
* * * * *